Sentara Cardiovascular Research Institute in Norfolk is among a handful of centers in the country enrolling patients in the PARACHUTE IV study to test an investigational device for the treatment of heart failure.

Sentara Heart specialists enroll patients in national trial

Sentara Cardiovascular Research Institute in Norfolk is among a handful of centers in the country enrolling patients in the PARACHUTE IV study to test an investigational device for the treatment of heart failure. Allen Chiuffo, M.D., with Sentara Cardiovascular Specialists is the lead investigator on the study and he spoke with SentaraNEWS about the pivotal role of this trial to prove efficacy in treating congestive heart failure for patients who have suffered a heart attack.

Using minimally invasive heart catheterization, Sentara Heart doctors place the parachute device inside of the patient’s heart to block the damaged heart muscle and reshape the organ to prevent further progression of chronic heart failure. So far, the study has enrolled seven patients. Sentara Heart Hospital is among 20 participating centers in what is the first large scale trial of this device, which has shown great promise in earlier studies conducted in Europe.